Detachable chain.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. W. HAY. DETAGHABLB CHAIN. APPLICATION FILED HAY 13,1907.

WITNESSES; fifla rs-6.4.4. .'fM

. WALTER HAY, OFERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern: j I

Be it known that I, WALTER HAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in-

' the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new Detachable Chain, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of chains used for the transmission of power and for elevating and conveying materials. In the present state of the art such chains may, for the purpose of more clearlypointing out the advantages of-the present invention, be subdivided into .three classes; first, those constructed of one piece detachable cast links; second, those constructed entirely of wrought metal, and third, those constructed partly of cast links and artly of wrought metal links. Chains in the 11st class are extensively used owing to their poiiiparatively low first cost; Ille linksb'eing' rigid resist any tendency of the chain to'twist, and are easily cast in the many forms termed attachment links however, the

links are generally connected together in the rough and with no provision for excluding gritty particles from the joints rapid wear soon renders them useless and where subj ected to sudden strains breakage frequently occurs; chains in the second class are naturally su erior in strength and durability to cast lin chains, yet their first cost is comparatively high and even prohibitive in many cases; they are constructed with links having double link members and hence are somewhat complicated and easily twisted which latter is undesirable in some classes of work, for instance, when used in connection with buckets for elevating materials within a casing, the buckets frequently departing from alinenient through twisting of the chain and rubbing against the insides of the casing; chains in the third class lack the rigidity of those in the first class and the strength of those in the second class, hence not having advantages commensurate with their addi-' tional cost over those of the first class, their use affords questionable relief.

Aiming to overcome the undesirable features described I have constructed a detachable link chain which combines the advantages and better qualities found in other chains of this class along with additional iniproveinents comprising a, novel construction -which will beread'ily understood from'the following detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawing in which 1 Figure 1 represents a plan viewof a pair of l Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1907. Serial No. 873,486.

one idirection -wh DETACHABLE CHAIN.

Patented July 14, mos.

chain links constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2, a sectional elevation on the line X, X, Fig. 3, a side elevabroken away, Fig. 4, a plan view of the coupling pin and Fig. 5, a plan-*viewof a'link showing a modification of construction.

served that the si es or side portions A, A ,,of.

each link are connected at an intermediate fioint by an integral bridge-like connection formed that the extremities thereofare parallel with each other and spaced further apart at one end of the link than at the opposite end whereby the expanded end is adapted to receive the contracted end of an adjoining link in the one direction and the contracted end to enter the expanded end of an adjoining link in the opposite direction when formin a chain. Hence it is obvious that all links in such a chain are interchange able and can be stamped and formed by the same dies, minimizing the cost of manufacturing and permitting the chain tobe shortened at any time by removing a single link. In the contracted end of each ink is a perfoattened si e as at D Fig. 4, to corres 0nd inform with such perforation whereby t e coupl prevented from turning in the lin H ,tened portion of the cou ling pin terminates in a shoulder I which wlien in contact with ing through this perforation has a vents longitudinal tion-ofa link with a portion of the near side I e connec tion B; the sides or side portionsA, A, are so sitely disposed side portions to receive thethe inner face of one of theside po ens pre- Referring to Fi s. 1, 2 and 3 it Will be obv and thatby means of such connection the" ration through both the oppositely disposed perforation is formed with'a flat sideas at r G, Fig. 3, and the end of the coupling in pass me es ,t eiflat I in the opposite direction is prevented by a cotter pin H passing transversely through the extremity of the coupling in so as to contact with the outer face of t e side portion, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig, 1.

With this novel construction it is apparent that the length of bearing subject to wear at the joints is equal to the length of the tubes,

and the links being constructed of plate or sheet metal of practically uniform thickness and the coupling members having smooth wearing surf aces, practically uniform strength and maximum durability naturally result;

tion. Another important advantage is that when the tubes and eouplin pins are s'ufiiciently worn they may be eas y removed and rangement, of the cou'plin tube J, instead of entering 't s link, is loosely new ones substituted, greatly adding to the economy of the chain.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification in the armembers the mounted on the couplin pin and thus permits a rolling contact w en running over a sprocket wheel.

It should be understood that I do not con-, fine myse to the exact details of construction here shown, varying re uirements of work necessitating slight mo ifications, for example, theconnection B may be of various shapes and located at any point intermediate the extremities of the link for convenience in securing elevating and conveyin attachments thereto; the couplin pin may e held in position longitudinally y means of a cotter pin through each end or a coupling pin havin a head at one end, or a common ,bolt, may e I used for coupling without departing from the e of this invention. hat I claim as myinvention is- 1. A chain link formed in one iece and com rising side portions A, A, am an intesco gral ridge-like connection B connecting said side portions at an intermediate point.

2. An interchangeable chain lmk formedin'one'piece and comprising oppositely disosedside portions A, A, an integral brid e- .like connection B, the extremities of the side portions being spaced further apart at one "end of the link than at the opposite end.

3. An interchangeable chain link comprising side portions A, A, formed at or near their longitudinal center with an oll'sct portion whereby the extremities of the side )ortions are spaced further apart at one end of the link than at the opposite end, and an integral bridge like connection B connecting the edges of the ofi"set portions of the said side portions.

4. A chain link formed in one piece and comprising side portions A, A, formed at an intermediate point with anangular oli'set portion, the extremities of the side portions eing parallel with each other and spaced further apart at one end of the link than at the opposite end, the side portions being formed in one piece by means of the integral bridge-like connection B.

5. A chain link formed in one piece and comprising side portions formed with an opening in each'of the oppositelydisposed extremities, one of the openings being clongated, a tube assingthrough the'openings near one end 0 the link, said tube having the side of one end expanded to correspond in shape with the elongated opening.

6. In a detachable chain, the combination of a air of links, a cou ling pin connecting the links and having a s oulder near one end thereof, and a cotter pin passing through the coupling pin and cooperating with the shoulder to prevent any ongitudinalmovement of the coupling pin. i

7.. In a chain, the combination of a air of links comprising side portions A, A, ormed with corresponding openings, one of the openings having a flattened side, a coupling pin passing through the corresponding openings and having the side of one end'thercof .liattened corresponding to the flattened portion of the opening, the flattened portion of the pin terminating in'a shoulder, and a cotter pin passing through the coupling pin and cooperatin with the shoulder to prevent longitudinal (is laoement of the coupling phi.

8. In a c ain, the combination of a pair of links, each link comprisin side portions A,

A, and an integral bridgeike connection B, said side portions formed with corresponding 0 enings, the contracted end of one link littmg within the expanded end of the adjoining link, a coupling pin passing through the corresponding openings, and a tube or sleeve carried by the coupling pin.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

WALTER uzir.

Witnesses:

C. B. HAYES, W. V. IIANLEY. 

